Carmen: Synopsis, Character Map

You are free to love me. But don’t expect me to love you.

Ah! Well, let’s wait and see. Don’t give up hope.

Somebody arrest me! I killed the woman I love!

Excuse me. Is Don José here?

Corporal of Dragoons
With the changing of the guard, Jose should be here any minute. Why don’t you wait for him with us?

I’ll come back.

Children
We march with the guards. Blow, trumpet. The little soldier’s march.

Avec la garde montante

Corporal of Dragoons
A girl is coming to visit you.

The girl… it’s Micaëla.

Zuniga
Hey, José. I’ve just arrived at the regiment and I don’t know the area. What’s this big building?

This is a tobacco factory. Inside, many female workers roll cigars.

At noon, they come out to this square. Men gather here to watch the women workers. I’m not interested in them, though, because they are all indiscreet women.

Zuniga
You have a girl who just came to visit you. She was wearing a Navarre costume, I heard. Are you from Navarre?

Yes, I did. I’m from Navarre. I got into trouble in my village and had to leave. So I joined Dragoon.

My father died early, my mother took in an orphan girl and raised her. That was the girl who came to visit me earlier. She is well-liked by my mother and will soon be seventeen, so.

Zuniga
Then you can’t look at any other woman.

Young men
The bell has rung. The women workers are coming out! Carmen’s not here. She’s here! It’s coming! It’s Carmen! Carmen, when are you going to like us?

La cloche a sonné

When I’m going to fall in love with you? I don’t know anything about that. Love is a wild bird. You can’t tame it.

L’amour est un oiseau rebelle

Young men
Carmen, I’m here to see you. Be nice to me!

Carmen! sur tes pas, nous nous pressons tous

What are you doing?

I’m making a chain out of wire.

So you’re going to stab me in the soul?

She must have done that because I didn’t even look at her. They say cats and women don’t come when you call them.

She threw the flowers well. The flower hit me right between the eyes.

They smell awful. If there’s a witch, she’s probably like that.

I’ve come from the village to see you. Your mother asked me to run an errand for you.

Let me know what’s going on with my mother.

Parle-moi de ma mère!

It’s a letter from your mother. And a kiss from your mother.

I want to see my mother. I want to go home.

I was almost tricked by a demonic woman. My mother protected me. Please give her back my kiss. Now, let’s read the letter.

Wait. I want you to read that letter after I’m gone. I’ll come back later to answer your letter.

“Mikaela is a good girl. If you’re willing, take her as your wife.”

That’s right. I’ll do as my mother says. I’m going to take Micaela as my wife. I’m not interested in gypsy women.

Zuniga
José, go check on the tobacco factory.

Carmen had inflicted a cross-shaped wound on the face of the female worker with whom she was quarreling. The other woman’s wounds are shallow and seem to be minor.

It’s all true. People in Navarre don’t lie!

Zuniga
Carmen, what do you have to say for yourself?

I won’t say anything if you cut me or burn me. I’m not afraid of God.

Tra la la … Coupe-moi、brûle-moi

Zuniga
Jose, tie this woman up with a rope. I’ll put you in jail. You can sing all you want in jail. I’ll write the order.

You have to let me go. I’m from your hometown. I was kidnapped by gypsies and now I’m here. Why can’t you be nice to a girl from your hometown?

Don’t lie to me. You’re a gypsy yourself.

You got me. But you’re gonna let me go. Because you like me. You have the flowers I threw at you.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t talk to me anymore.

There’s a tavern near the walls of Seville. That’s where we dance, drink, and make noise. But being alone is boring. I need a new lover.

Près des remparts de Séville

I’m thinking. I’m thinking about someone who loves me. If he loves me, I might love him too!

Carmen. I feel as if I’m drunk. If I’m good to you, will you keep your word? If I love you, will you love me?

Carmen, je suis comme un homme ivre

(Whispering to José, singing) There’s a tavern near the walls of Seville.

Zuniga
Here are the orders to put her in jail. Keep a close eye on her.

(Whispering to José) On my way out, I’m gonna push you and run. Pretend you’re down.

A guitar strums, and a gypsy woman stands up. They dance to the music. When the gypsy man plays powerfully, the women dance wildly!

Les tringles des sistres tintaient

The owner of the bar
Why don’t you go home now? It’s closing time. I don’t know why, but you seem to be keeping an eye on our bar.

Zuniga
That’s right. I’m thinking this tavern is a smuggling den. It’s too early to go back to the barracks. I’ll take the girls to the play. Carmen, you wanna go?

I’m not going.

Zuniga
Are you mad at me? Because I tried to put you in jail a month ago. The corporal who let you go was downgraded and put in a military punishment cell.

That guy’s been downgraded?

Zuniga
It’s impossible for a weak woman to push a man and run away. He’s been in jail for a month and just got out today.

Yeah. I’m glad.

Escamillo’s fans
Long live the bullfighters, long live Escamillo.

Vivat! vivat le Toréro!

Zuniga
He’s a Toreador. Let’s get him in this seat! Here’s to your courage!

Thank you for having me, too. Soldiers and Toreador are the same things. They devote themselves to fighting. We fight the bulls in the excitement of the bullring.

Toreador Song: Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre

What’s your name? I’ll shout your name next time I’m in the bullring and I kill a bull.

My name is Carmen. You are free to love me. But don’t expect me to love you.

Ah! Well, let’s wait and see. Don’t give up hope.

Zuniga
Carmen. You’re not coming with me, are you? That’s okay. I’ll be back here. Toreadors. Add me to your drinking buddies.

I’m honored.

Smuggler man
I have a good deal for you. I need a female companion. Of course, they’re going to join us.

Nous avons en tête une affaire

I can’t. I’m in love.

José’s voice: I am a dragon cavalryman of Alcala. We fight for honor.

Smuggler
We’re gonna get that guy to join us.

I wish I could get him to join us, but he can’t. He’s too serious.

Smuggler
There’s no way you won’t be one of the smugglers just because you’re in love with a man. Master will not be convinced.

José’s voice: I am a dragon cavalryman of Alcala. Let’s go to my beloved girl.

You’re finally here! I sent you sandpaper and gold coins so that you could escape, but you didn’t use them. You could have used the sandpaper to break the prison, and the gold coins to buy clothes to change from military uniform to plain clothes.

I’m a soldier. I can’t afford the embarrassment of escaping from prison. So I decided not to use the sandpaper, but to keep it as a memory. I’ve brought this gold coin with me.

I think you have a grudge against me. You’ve been jailed and stripped of your rank of corporal.

I don’t care about any of that. Because I love you.

Gypsies never forget a favor. Come on, have a lot of food. Oh, by the way, Zuniga came to the tavern. I danced with him. Zuniga is hitting on me, saying he likes me.

Carmen, what?

You’re jealous. I’m going to show you a little dance I can do for you.

Je vais danser en votre honneur

That’s the bugle call. We have to get back to the barracks.

Why don’t you just go back to the barracks? I don’t believe in your love.

That’s terrible. Believe me.

I kept this flower that you threw at me while I was in the military punishment cell. Even after they withered, they still had a sweet scent. In the darkness, I could smell the scent of the flowers.

I thought of hating you and cursing you. Then I blamed myself. I only had one wish left. I wanted to see you. Carmen, I love you!

La fleur que tu m’avais jetée

No, you don’t love me. If you like me, you won’t leave me. You have to follow me.

No, I’m going back to the barracks. I’m leaving you forever.

Zuniga
Carmen! I’m back. José! Why are you here? Get out of here!

I’m not leaving! I’m gonna hurt you!

I’m going to rope you up for a while. Jose, you’re one of us now.

I don’t have a choice.

All
This business is not bad, but you need a strong heart. There are dangers above and below.

Notre métier est bon

Smuggler
You guys can rest here for an hour or so. I’m going to check the road to see if the contraband can be carried without any problems.

I’m sorry for yelling at you. Let’s make up. Don’t you love me anymore?

I don’t love you as much as I used to. I want you to stop telling me what to do and restraining me. I want to be free.

My mom probably thinks I’m still a good person.

Why don’t you just go home? I’m not going to stop you. This is not the right job for you. You’ll die soon.

If you’re going to say goodbye so much, you’ll lose your life too.

You’re going to kill me!

My card readings predicted that we would die together.

The two gypsy women
Mix and cut. Cards, tell me the future.

Mêlons! Coupons!

I’ll do it this time. The “death” card again. I’ll die first, then José will die.

Smuggler
Maybe we can make it. Jose, stay here and watch the luggage. The road is fine, but there were three tax officials.

Carmen and Two Gypsy Women
I’ll take care of the tax official. I’m sure he likes to play with women as much as the next guy. Let us go first.

Quant au douanier, c’est notre affaire

Guide
Spooky place, isn’t it? If you stay here, you’ll meet the gypsies. You’re a gutsy girl, by the way. I’m going back to the village.

It’s no big deal. That’s about it. What do I have to be afraid of? I’m going to get the man I love back. From that evil bitch.

Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante

That’s José on the rocks.

Hey! Who the hell are you?

Well, calm down. I’m Escamillo. I’m a bullfighter. I’m here to see Carmen. The last time I saw her, she told me she had another lover, but I figured she must have broken up with him by now.

Je suis Escamillo, toréro de Grenade

You can’t have Carmen. You’ll have to duel with a knife.

Oh, I see. So you’re Carmen’s lover.

That knife stance, you’re from Navarre. But you’re not going to win with that stance.

You know that. Your life is at my mercy, but my job is to stab cows. I don’t stab people in the heart.

I will fight you to the death!

Stop it, José!

Holà, holà! José!

It’s nice to know that Carmen saved my life. I invite you all to the next bullfight in Seville.

Micaëla! Why are you here?

I’ve come for you. Your mother is crying. She’s in her little house praying and waiting for you to come home.

You should go home. You’re not cut out for our kind of work.

I don’t want to. I’m not leaving. You’ll go to your new lover.

Let me say one last thing. Your mother may die today or tomorrow. She wants to see her son.

My mother! Okay. But I’ll be right back.

All
Why don’t you buy a fan? They sell oranges over here.

The gypsy women
Carmen should be here soon to support her new lover, Escamillo. Speaking of which, what happened to her old lover, José?

Zuniga
José is being sought on charges of fleeing the army. He came to his mother’s village and was about to be arrested, so he escaped. He’ll be caught soon.

The gypsy women
If I were Carmen, I’d be scared.

All
The bullfighters are here. Glowing eyes. Gorgeous embroidered costumes. Wield the spear and kill the bull.

Les voici ! Voici la quadrille!

Carmen, soon you’ll be proud of the work I’ve done!

I’ve never loved a man so much in my life.

The gypsy women
Carmen, it’s not safe for you to be here. I heard José is here.

I just found Jose. I’m not afraid of that man. I’m going to talk to him.

It’s you!

C’est toi!

It’s me!

C’est moi!

My friend told me that my life is in danger because you are here. But I’m fine. I’m not going to run away from you.

I’m not here to threaten you. Let’s start over again. Let’s forget the past and go somewhere far away.

I want to save your life, and you want to save mine. Let’s run away together. We’re going to save both of our lives.

I don’t love you anymore!

I don’t lie to my heart. Carmen and José are no longer lovers. Carmen is free to live and free to die!

Where are you going? I’m not letting you go to that man with the applause! You’re going with me. Do you love him?

That’s right! Even in death, I’ll still love Escamillo.

You’re going to laugh at me when I’m in his arms. Please don’t go. I don’t want to blackmail you.

You need to make a quick decision to kill me or let me go. How long do I have to waste my time with you? Just decide.

I don’t want the ring you gave me. I’m giving it back to you!

Somebody arrest me! I killed Carmen! I killed the woman I love!