Carmen - Acte I (1. Introduction)

First Act
A square in Seville. To the right, the door of the tobacco factory. At the back, facing the audience, a walkway crossing the stage in its entirety. From the stage, one reaches this walkway by a winding staircase that revolves to the right above the door of the tobacco factory. The underside of the walkway is walkable. On the left, in the foreground, the guardhouse. In front of the guardhouse, a small covered gallery, raised by two or three steps; near the guardhouse, in a rack, the lances of the dragons with their yellow and red banners.

First Scene
Moralès, Micaela, Soldiers, Passersby
1. Introduction
As the curtain rises, about fifteen soldiers (Dragons of the Alcala regiment) are grouped in front of the guardhouse. Some sitting and smoking, others leaning on the railing of the gallery. Movement of passersby in the square. Hurried, busy people, coming and going, meeting, greeting, bumping into each other, etc.

Chorus (Soldiers) (TB)
In the square
everyone passes by,
everyone comes, everyone goes;
Strange people, these people!
Strange people, these people!
Strange people! Strange people!
Strange people, these people!
Strange people! Strange people!
Strange people! Strange people!

Moralès [nonchalantly]
At the guardhouse door,
to kill time,
we smoke, we chat, we watch
the passersby go by.
In the square
everyone passes by,
everyone comes, everyone goes;

Soldiers' Chorus (TB)
In the square
everyone passes by,
everyone comes, everyone goes;
Strange people, these people!
Strange people, these people!
Strange people! Strange people!
Strange people, these people!
Moralès
Strange people!
Soldiers' Chorus (B)
Strange people!
Soldiers (TB)
Strange people!
Moralès
Strange people!
Soldiers (B)
Strange people!
Soldiers (TB)
Strange people!

For a few minutes, Micaëla has entered. Blue skirt, braids falling on her shoulders, hesitant, embarrassed, she looks at the soldiers, advances, retreats, etc.

Moralès to the soldiers
Look at this little one
who seems to want to talk to us...
See! see!... she turns... she hesitates...

Soldiers' Chorus (TB)
We must go to her rescue!

Moralès to Micaëla [gallantly]
What are you looking for, beauty?

Micaëla [simply]
I'm looking for a brigadier.

Moralès [emphatically]
I am here...
Here!

Micaëla
My brigadier, for me, is called
Don José... do you know him?

Moralès
Don José? We all know him.

Micaëla [joyfully]
Really! Is he with you, please?

Moralès [elegantly]
He is not a brigadier in our company.

Micaëla [disappointed]
Then, he is not here.

Moralès
No, my charming, no, my charming, he is not here.
But he will be here in a moment,
yes, he will be here in a moment.
He will be here when the incoming guard
replaces the outgoing guard,

Moralès, Soldiers' Chorus (TBB)
He will be here when the incoming guard
replaces the outgoing guard.

Moralès [very gallant]
But while waiting for him to come,
do you want, lovely child,
do you want to take the trouble
to come in with us for a moment?

Micaëla
With you?

Moralès, Chorus (TB)
With us!

Micaëla
With you?

Moralès, Chorus (TB)
With us!

Micaëla [slyly]
No, no,
thank you, gentlemen soldiers.

Moralès
Enter without fear, darling,
I promise you that we will have,
for your dear person,
all the respect necessary.

Micaëla
I have no doubt, however,
I will come back, I will come back, it's more prudent!
Laughing and repeating the sergeant's phrase
I will come back when the incoming guard
replaces the outgoing guard,
I will come back when the incoming guard
replaces the outgoing guard.

Moralès, Chorus (TBB)
You must stay, because the incoming guard
is going to replace the outgoing guard.

Moralès [holding Micaëla back]
You will stay!

Micaëla trying to free herself
No, no!

Moralès, Chorus (TB)
You will stay!

Micaëla
No, no!
no! no! no! no! no!

Moralès, Chorus (TB)
You will stay! You will stay!
yes, you will stay, you will stay!

Micaëla
Goodbye, gentlemen soldiers!
She escapes and runs away.

Moralès
The bird flies away...
we console ourselves!..
Let's resume our pastime
and watch the people go by!

Chorus (TB)
In the square
everyone passes by,
everyone comes, everyone goes;
Strange people, these people!
Strange people, these people!
Strange people! Strange people!
Strange people, these people!
Moralès
Strange people!
Soldiers' Chorus (B)
Strange people!
Soldiers (TB)
Strange people!
Moralès
Strange people!
Soldiers (B)
Strange people!
Soldiers (TB)
Strange people!