【Carmen】Synopsis, Character Map

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

Ah! Well then, let’s not give up hope and wait for you.

Somebody arrest me! I killed the woman I love!

Excuse me, please. Is Don José here?

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

I’ll be back.

The Children
We march with the guards. Blow the trumpet. The little soldiers are marching.

Avec la garde montante

Soldier
Now the girl has come to see you.

A girl… It’s Micaëla.

Zuniga
Hey José. I just got to the regiment and I don’t know the area. What’s this big building?

This is a tobacco factory where women work. At noon they come out to this place. I’m not interested in them because they’re all bad women, but men gather here to watch them.

Zuniga
There was a girl who came to see you a while ago. I heard she was wearing a Navarre costume. Are you from Navarre?

I’m from Navarre. I was kicked out of my village for making trouble, so I joined the army. My mother raised me and an orphan girl, and that’s the girl who just came to see me. She’s very much loved by my mother, and she’s about to turn 17.

Zuniga
Then you can’t look at another woman.

Young Men
The bells have rung. The women are coming out! Carmen comes out! When will you love me?

La cloche a sonné

Who knows when I’ll fall in love with someone. Love is a wild bird. You can’t tame it.

L’amour est un oiseau rebelle

What are you doing?

I make a chain out of wire.

Ha ha! Are you going to pierce my soul with that?

I guess she does that because I don’t even look at her.

It’s a flower with a harsh smell. If there is a witch, she must be like this.

I’m here because your mother asked me to come.

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

Parle-moi de ma mère!

It is a letter from your mother.

I want to see my mother. I was almost tricked by a demon woman. My mother protected me. Now let’s read the letter.

Wait. Read the letter after I’m gone.

I will take Micaëla as my wife, as my mother wishes.

Zuniga
José, go to the tobacco factory and find out what’s going on.

Carmen had inflicted a wound on the face of her quarreling partner.

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
Keep her on the ropes. I will go write the order to put her in jail.

Let me go. I’m from your hometown. Why can’t you be nice to a girl from your hometown?

Don’t lie. You are a gypsy.

You’ve been found out. But you’ll let me go. Because you like me. You have the flowers I threw you.

Don’t talk to me anymore.

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

Près des remparts de Séville

I imagine someone who loves me. If he loves me, maybe I will love him!

Carmen. I feel like I’m drunk. If I get on your good side, will you keep your promise? If I love you, will you love me?

Carmen, je suis comme un homme ivre

(whispers to José, sings) There is a tavern near the walls of Seville.

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

When the man strums the guitar, the gypsy women rise to their feet. When the man plays with power, the women dance wildly!

Les tringles des sistres tintaient

Zuniga
It’s too soon to go back to the barracks. Take the girls to the play, they will enjoy it. Carmen, do you want to go with me?

I’m not going.

Zuniga
Are you angry with me because I tried to put you in jail? The man who let you go is in a military jail. He was in jail for a month and just got out today.

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

Vivat! vivat le Toréro!

Zuniga
Come here! Here’s to your courage!

Thank you for the invitation. Soldiers and bullfighters are the same in that they are both dedicated to fighting.

Toreador Song: Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre

What’s your name? I will call your name the next time I take down a bull in the bullring.

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

Ah! Then I will wait for you without giving up hope.

Zuniga
Carmen, you’re not coming? Well, that’s okay. I’ll come back here and see you again. Hey, bullfighter. I want you to have a drink with me.

Smuggler
We have a lucrative business and need some female company. Of course you will join us, right?

Nous avons en tête une affaire

I can’t because I’m in love.

Smuggler
Well, I’m sorry to hear that.

Finally, you came! I sent you sandpaper and gold coins to escape, but you didn’t use them.

I am a soldier. I can’t behave in an embarrassing manner.

Zuniga came here earlier and hit on me.

Carmen, what?

You are jealous. Let me show you my dance.

Je vais danser en votre honneur

I have to go back.

Get the hell out of here. I can’t believe you love me.

I kept the flower you threw me. In the darkness, I smelled the scent of the flower. There were times when I wanted to hate you, to curse you. Then I blamed myself. I have only one wish. I miss you. I love you, Carmen!

La fleur que tu m’avais jetée

You don’t love me. If you love me, you can’t leave me one moment.

I’m going back. Goodbye forever.

Zuniga
José! Why are you here? Get out of here!

I’m not leaving! I’m going to hurt you!

Now you are one of us.

I have no choice.

All
This business is not a bad one, but you have to have a strong heart for it.

Notre métier est bon

Smuggler
Rest here for an hour. I’ll see if the road is safe.

I’m sorry I yelled at you. Let’s make up.

Do not constrain me. I want to be free.

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

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

Even you will lose your life if you say goodbye to me.

Are you going to kill me? I’ve had a number of death cards come up in my readings so far.

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

Mêlons! Coupons!

I’ll read my fortune. Another death card.

Carreau, pique…la mort

Smuggler
Maybe we can make it. José, stay here and take care of the luggage. The road is okay, but there were three officers.

Carmen and Two Gypsy Women
It’s our job to deal with the customs officials. We charm them and get the job done.

Quant au douanier, c’est notre affaire

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

It’s not a big deal. What is there to fear? I will get the man I love back from the evil bitch!

Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante

Hey! Who the hell are you?

Calm down. I am Escamillo, the bullfighter. I have come to see Carmen. When I met her before, she refused to see me because she had a boyfriend, but I came to see her because I thought she had broken up with him.

Je suis Escamillo, toréro de Grenade

You have to duel.

Oh, I see, you’re Carmen’s lover.

That knife stance, you’re from Navarre. But you won’t win with that stance. 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 good to know that Carmen saved my life. I invite you all to the next bullfight.

Why are you here?

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

You should go home.

I don’t want to. You will go to your new lover, won’t you?

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

Rejoice, Carmen. But I’ll be right back.

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’ll be caught soon.

The gypsy women
If I were Carmen, I would be afraid of him.

All
The bullfighters are here. Bright eyes. Beautiful embroidered costumes. Swing your spear and kill the bull.

Les voici ! Voici la quadrille!

When you see the work I will do, you will be very proud!

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 was told José was here.

I am not afraid of 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 won’t run away from you.

I’m not here to blackmail you. Let’s start over. I want to save your life. I want you to save my life. You’ll save both of our lives.

I will never love you! I will not lie to my heart. The relationship between Carmen and José is over. Carmen is free to live and free to die!

Where are you going? I won’t let you go to him!

Even in death, I’ll still love Escamillo.

Do you mock me in his arms?

Either stab me or let me go. How long do I have to have this stupid conversation with you? I don’t want it anymore. I’m giving you back the ring you gave me!

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