The Baker's Wife La ACT ONE ‘Scene 1 SET: ‘The small square of a rural village in Provence, France, The exterior of the cafe. ‘TIME Early evening September, 1935. AT RISE: Several villagers (to be identified as they speak) are at the tables; others arrive in the course of the opening number, CLAUDE, the cafe owner, and his wife, DENISE, are setting the tables, serving drinks ete. There is Some desultory conversation as the audience enters. As the house lights ‘dim, DENISE sings as she goes about her work. PHILIPPE, a young matt about 19, accompanies her on a guitar. DENISE CHAQUE JOUR EST UN JOUR COMME LES AUTRES DOUX JOURS LE POTAGE, L'OUVRAGE PEUT-ETRE L'AMOUR LESOLEIL, IL VOYAGE LE MONDE FAIT UN TOUR ‘AINSI C'EST TOUJOURS LA MEME. CLAUDE (sharply) Denise! Look at this table! BARNABY ‘The air is too peaceful. The mistral is coming soon. CLAUDE Yes, Ihave to fix my rain gutter, it is beginning to rot. DENISE EVERY DAY AS YOU DO WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY ‘YOU SEE THE SAME FACES WHO FILL THE CAFE AND If SOME OF THOSE FACES HAVE NEW THINGS TO SAY NOTHING IS REALLY DIFFERENT... AND THR SHEEP DOT THE HILL WHERE THE OLIVE TREE SWAYS ‘AND THE WORLD SPINS AROUND WITH THE GREENS AND THE GRAYS (AND YOU NEVER TAKE TIME OUT TO THINK OF THE WAYS EVERYTHING MIGHT BE DIFFERENT. AND THEN ONE DAY, SUDDENLY, SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN, Ir MAY BE QUITE SIMPLE, IT MAY BE QUITE SMALL BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR STEW TASTES DIFFERENT ‘AND YOU HEAR THE GULLS CRYThe Baker's Wife IN A DIFFERENT KEY, AND YOU SEE WITH NEW EYES, AND THE PACES YOU SEE ARE PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW AT ALL, ND THE SOMEONE WHO TOUCHES YOUR HAIR EVERY DAY, TOUCHES YOU NOW IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND. YOU MAY WANT TO RUN OR YOU MAY WANT 70 STAY FOREVER, AND SINCE LIFE IS THE CRY OF THE GULL AND THE TASTE OF THE STEW AND THE WAY THAT YOU FEI, WHEN HE TOUCHES YOU NOW YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS DIFFERENT NOW YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS NEW.. LALALALALALALALALALA LALALALALALALALALALA CLAUDE Denise! Hortense is waiting! DENISE (Goes back to work) EVERY DAY AS YOU DO WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY YOU SEE THE SAME FACES WHO FILL THE CARE AND IF SOME OF THOSE FACES AVE NEW THINGS TO SAY NOTHING IS REALLY DIFFERENT. (PIERRE and DOUMERGUE enter in the midst of @ heated quarrel) PIERRE Doumergue, I am telling you for the last time... DOUMERGUE ‘ No, I will not cut down my oak tree! PIERRE But your tree shades my garden. Spinach cannot grow without sunlight DOUMERGUE Pierre, T cannot make the sun rise from west to east, Move your garden, PIERRE ; Where? Into my house? Cut down that tree! DOUMERGUE Twill cut down my tree when you cut off your nose,The Baker's Wife 113 ANTOINE What time is it? (No one answers...fter a pause) T asked what time is it? BARNABY Who are you asking? ANTOINE, Anyone. It is the same time for anyone. CASIMIR Why do you want to know the time? You're not going anywhere. ANTOINE (Annoyed) ‘That's not the question. I just want to know the time. Anything wrong with that? Eh, teacher? ‘TEACHER Of course not. Even a person who's not going anywhere has a right to know the time. CASIMIR But if he is not going anywhere, what difference does it make to him what time it is? PIERRE Yes, that’s the question. ‘TEACHER ‘This village is full of idiots. It is half-past seven. BARNABY He's late. TEACHER He is not late. BARNABY But you said he would arrive tonight. And he's not here, ‘TEACHER It is still tonight. CLAUDE hen what you mean, my friend, is that it’s still too early for him to be here? ‘TEACHER It is neither too early nor too late. He will arrive when he will arriveThe Baker's Wife 14 CASIMIR Perhaps sooner. BARNABY How can he arrive sooner than he will arrive? Ask him why he says such stupid things? Idiot! CasIMIR Tell him ] mean that perhaps he will arrive sooner than we expect him. (A beat) Or later. Fool! HORTENSE (Timially) You know what I think? BARNABY No one asked you, my dear. HORTENSE was only going to say. BARNABY (disregarding her) Maybe he changed his mind and won’t come at all. ‘THERESE In the name of God, don’t even think such things! Seven weeks without bread! CLAUDE It was e calamity when old Fouget died. ‘TEACHER May his soul rest in peace. ANTOINE That’s all very well, but he could have arranged for another baker. He knew he was going to die, TEACHER How did he know? He was drunk, he fell in a pit and broke his neck. ANTOINE, He knew because ... because we alll have to die, That's life! You'll admit that, teacher! ‘TRACHER Stupiclity! This village has a plague of stupidity? (PRIEST enters.) VILLAGERS (Ad lib)115 ‘The Baker's Wife Good evening, Father. PRIEST ‘Ah, teacher, there is a question I wish to raise with you. ‘TEACHER Yes? PRIEST 1 understand that this morning you told the children that Joan of Arc thought she heard voices. ‘TEACHER Quite right PRIEST You had no right to mislead the children. You should have said Joan of Arc heard voices. ‘TEACHER Well, 'm not sure she did. I wasn't there. I wasn’t born in 1431 PRIEST of Are ig a saint! She heard voices! ‘TEACHER But despite her voices, they burned her in Rouen. And she was not incombustible. She died of it "THERESE Mary, Mother of God! Is that any way to talk of a saint? CASIMIR He's entitled to his opinion. HORTENSE ‘The children must be taught faith.. POUMERGUE, After all, he knows. He’s a teacher. i i PIERRE | ‘The cure is right. (Etc) ‘TEACHER ‘This village has a plague of stupidity! (To PRIEST) And you've been spreading the germ! ‘THE GREAT DESCARTES DECLARED: I THINK ‘THEREFORE I AM, THEREFORE I’M HERE i SINCE YOU DO NOT THINK AND THEREFORE YOU'RE NOT PLEASE TAKE DESCARTES’ ADVICE AND DISAPPEAR!The Baker's Wife 1 PRIEST OUR HOLY SAVIOR TEACHES US: LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS HE WOULD YOU AND LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR WOULDN'T BE HARD IF ONLY OUR NEIGHBOR WASN'T YOU! BOTH OH, THIS WOULD BE THE SWEETEST LIFE A MAN COULD EVER KNOW HERE SWEET AS THE ASPARAGUS AND APRICOTS WE GROW HERE ‘TEACHER WHERE THE GORGE IS GORGEOUS PRIEST AND THE SKY A FEAST OF BLUE BOTH LIFE WOULD BE SO LOVELY IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU! (The MARQUIS, NIECES and DOMINIQUE enter. CLAUDE imooes DOUMERGUE and PIERRE from their table) CLAUDE ae If you please .. the Marquis’ table .. (fo Marquis) Good evening, M le Marquis, OTHERS (Ad lib greetings) MARQUIS (TO NIECES) Simone, Inez, Nicole. NICOLE Vd love a chocolate. May I, Maurice? MARQUIS Of course. SIMONE You're getting too fat, you know that, Nicole? NICOLE Jam not. INEZ a, Yes, you are, (to Marquis) You know, every time she has a chance - nibble, nipple, nibble Even at night after dinner, she.‘The Baker's Wife MARQUIS (cuts her of) ‘yes, Denise, a chocolate for each of the little ones. ‘ALL THREE (at ib) ‘Thank you, Maurice. MARQUIS ‘phe new baker has not arrived, Claude? CLAUDE Not yet .. Denise! ‘The usual for Mle Marquis PRIEST Mle Marquis .. I noticed you were not at Mass again this morning. MARQUIS, rim sorry, Mle Curé, L was in my bath and it was so pleasurable, I'm afraid [ lingered. PRIEST Mle Marquis... MARQUIS Coane now, MLe Curé, as you've often said: God is everywhere. So while you were with Him ir church, I was with Him in my bath. PRIEST ‘What about cleansing your soul? TEACHER Soul! Soul! A figment of the theological imagination! What separates us from the animals is ou intelligence. MARQUIS We are not separated from the animals at all. We have the same marvelous appetites, thank God! PRIEST Disgracefull ‘TEACHER Some of us are not animals! MARQUIS YOU'RE BOTH SUCH BORES YOU'RE BOTH SUCH PILLS WHERE ARE THE BELLIES UNDER YOUR BELTS? YM A MAN WHO LIKES TO LIVE AND LET LIVE ‘AND I'D LIKE TO LET YOU BOTH LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE! MARQUIS, TEACHER, PRIEST OH, ALL | REALLY WANT IS ALL THAT ANYBODY WANTS:The Baker's Wife rs 4 SIMPLE, PEACEFUL LIFE BENEATH THE PLANE TREES OF PROVENCE TEACHER, MARQUIS PRIEST (two beats later without no wonder”) NO SPAT TO SPOIL MY SUPPER NO BLOT TO BLIGHT MY VIEW NO WONDER I'D BE HAPPY ALL IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU. PHILIPPE Pominique! Celeste said she will wait for you by the schoolyard, DOMINIQUE Right. (To Marquis) Monsieur le Marquis, do you need me any more tonight? MARQUIS Another rendezvous, Dominique? One of the village girls, eh? DOMINIQUE Well. MARQUIS Rum along... have a good time. DOMINIQUE Thank you, Monsieur le Marquis. (He exits) CLAUDE (Suddenly turns on ANTOINE) You! You had no business letting your dog jump in my well ANTOINE He jumped into the well himself. He’s a dog, CLAUDE But he's your dog! DENISE Claude, please! It was seven years ago, CLAUDE Seven years or seven days! What's right is right‘The Baker's Wife CASIMIR ‘True, a man should watch his dog DOUMERGUE He fished him out, didn’t he? PIERRE How would you like a dog in your well ANTOINE The dog just likes to swim. ‘THERESE (To Phillipe next to her) DON'T SIT SO CLOSE! PIERRE (To someone at his table) DON'T TALK SO LOUD! BARNABY (To HORTENSE) DON'T MIX YOUR PEAS IN WITH YOUR SQUASH! HORTENSE, Sorry . ‘TEACHER HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN ON SCRAPING THAT FORK? MARQUIS | (To ANTOINE) i HOW LONG IS IT SINCE YOU HAD A WASH? | (ANTOINE, annoyed, exits) ALL OH, LIFE IS HARD ENOUGH FOR ME WITH ALL MY CARES AND LABORS WHY MUST I BE BURDENED WITH SUCH IRRITATING NEIGHBORS? FOR I'M A QUIET, GENTLE SOUL ‘AS MILD AS MORNING DEW \ 1D NEVER EVEN RAISE MY VOICE If TT WASN'T FOR YOU. ‘THERESE, PEST!The Baker's Wife PHILIPPE (To THERESE) PRUNE! PRIG! ‘THERESE PEASANT! MARQUIS. (To TEACHER) PEDANT! PRIEST (To MARQUIS) PAGAN! TEACHER (To PRIEST) PAPIST! DENISE : Ox! DOUMERGUE ASS! BARNABY GOAT! INEZ PIG! ALL (Sing in round, softly at first, but growing louder and louder) FOR I'M A QUIET, GENTLE SOUL AS MILD AS MORNING DEW UD NEVER EVEN RAISE MY VOICE IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU .. IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU.. IF IT WASN'T FOR... CASIMIR Someone's coming! PHILIPPE It's him. MARQUIS ‘The baker.The Baker's Wife Bett ANTOINE (Enters, adjusting his trousers) What time is it? ALL IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU! BARNABY FOR HIM CLAUDE (Indicates DENISE) FOR HER! wo? (GESTURE AT MEN) FOR THEM! i CLAUDE, DOUMERGUE (To ANTOINE) 2.3 DOG! ANTOINE, PIERRE (To DOUMERGUE} HIS HORSE! CASIMIR, PRIEST, TEACHER HIS WELL! PHILIPPE, ANTOINE HIS WIFE! DENISE, HORTENSE MY HUSBAND! CLAUDE, BARNABY HER MOTHER! ‘THERESE, PRIEST (indicates MARQUIS) HIS NIECES! asian | MY BROTHER!‘The Baker's Wife 1-12 PIERRE (Indicating DOUMERGUE) HIS OAK TREE! DOUMERGUE (Indicating PIERRE) HIS SPINACH! VARIOUS VILLAGERS ‘THEIR CHICKEN! THEIR CHILDREN! ALL FOR THOSE ... AND THAT ROTTEN .. AND SOME IVE FORGOTTEN NOW TOO .. AND YOU! At the end of the song: AIMABLE (Enters) This is the village of Concorde? MARQUIS (Nods) You are our new baker? (AIMABLE nods) Welcome, M. Castagnet ... A thousand times welcome, ‘TEACHER am M Martine, with whom you corresponded. This is M le Marquis who is also our Mayor Mle Curé ... Others of our village. (They nod) MARQUIS Sit down, M Castagnet. Have a drink CLAUDE Denise, some wine! AIMABLE ‘Thank you, I don't drink. MARQUIS Really! ... Some coffee, then . CLAUDE Denise, some coffee! AIMABLE No, thank you. I'd like to get settled. If someone would be good enough to help me with my luggege.The Baker's Wife CLAUDE Of course ... Antoine! (AIMABLE exits, followed by ANTOINE) MARQUIS At last! A baker! We will have our bread again! TEACHER ‘The nightmare is over PIERRE He looks like a good baker, DOUMERGUE ‘What makes you say that? PIERRE Well, he’s old enough, must be experienced. DOUMERGUE Maybe he’s been a bad baker for years. PIERRE Thadn’t thought of that, (AIMABLE and ANTOINE enter, carrying luggage. They are followed by GENEVIEVE, carrying a small case containing her cat.) MARQUIS Oh, you have a daughter. AIMABLE My wife .. (VILLAGERS react) MARQUIS Oh, I'm, sorry ... Are you sure you wouldn't care for something ... coffee? AIMABLE My love? GENEVIEVE Not right now. AIMABLE I think we'd like to see our new home. ‘TEACHER Fl take you to your new house, monsieur ... The keyThe Baker's Wife kata (Hands AIMABLE the key .. AIMABLE, GENEVIEVE, ANTOINE, carrying luggage into house, exit.) CASIMIR That's an odd looking couple, isn’t it. PIERRE Where did he pick her up? BARNABY Snatched her from the cradie no doubt. CLAUDE (Or won her in the lottery. (THEY exit, laughing)The Baker's Wife 2 ACT ONE SCENE 2 Interior: The Bakery ANTOINE, AIMABLE and GENEVIEVE enter. AIMABLE pu luggage down, and looks around. She sinks into a chair, exhausted ATMABLE Thank you, very kind of you. (ANTOINE exits.) My, it’s dark here. Let’s have some light. Oh, it's nice ... and clean ... and homey, isn’t it, Genevieve GENEVIEVE it's nice. AIMABLE And this oven, it’s perfect ... (Looks around) Everything in such good shape ... a cozy room, isn’t it, Genevieve? GENEVIEVE ‘Yes, it’s nice. AIMABLE, My own house ... [never had my own house before .. (10 CAT, whtich she is holding) And you, Pompom, do you like your new home? GENEVIEVE She says of course she does. AIMABLE ‘Thank you, Pompom. Just for that, an extra saucer of cream tomorrow mozning. (Picks up luggage) I'd better take these up to our bedroom. GENEVIEVE TU help you. AIMABLE No, no, you rest. You must be tired after that walk from the bus stop ... And these are heavy. GENEVIEVE imable, you've seen me carrying trays of dishes much heavier than this AIMABLE But you're not a waitress any more. You're Madame Castagnet nowThe Baker's Wife GENEVIEVE Please don’t call me that. I've asked you before. AIMABLE But you are Madame Castagnet. GENEVIEVE I know but it... it makes me sound like a fat old lady. AIMABLE Old lady! (to POMPOM) Poor little old lady. Poor oid Madame Castagnet! She’s marvelous, you know, she’s almost thirty. Poor old Madame Castagnet. GENEVIEVE Aimable! Stop! AIMABLE Tlove to say it. (Lovingly) Madame Castagnet GENEVIEVE Please, Aimable. Just Genevieve. AIMABLE (Starts up stairs with luggage) My Genevieve! (GENEVIEVE rises, starts looking around room. AIMABLE from upstairs) This is a very comfortable room, Genevieve. Come up and see it. It's a wonderfully soft bed.. (GENEVIEVE goes fo door, steps outside. AIMABLE descending stairs doesn’ see her) Genevieve! ... Genevieve! Where are you? GENEVIEVE (re-enters) What is it? What's the matter? AIMABLE, Nothing... I miss you. When you leave a room, I miss you123 ‘The Baker's Wife GENEVIEVE Aimable, you've got to stop worrying about me. AIMABLE Ym sorry, it's just that sometimes I think this is all a dream and I'll wake up and you'll be gone. GENEVIEVE Ym here, Aimable. (GENEVIEVE collapses into chair.) AIMABLE ; Poor thing, you're so tired. Here, let me rub your feet .. (rubs her foot) Pretty, little foot (Picks up other foot... startled!) And look ... the other one is just as little. (SHE kisses fim) A kiss... Merci, Madame ... You do like it here, don’t you, Genevieve? GENBVIEVE Yes ‘ AIMABLE You really like it? GENEVIEVE I really like it. AIMABLE DID YOU HEAR THAT ~- SHE LIKES IT! ‘DID YOU HEAR THAT, POMPOM! OUR DARLING SAYS SHE LIKES IT. DID YOU HEAR THAT POMPOM? CAN YOU SEE HER FACE IS SHINING AND HER EYES GIVE OFF A LIGHT BRIGHT AS THE MOON IS BRIGHT (To GENEVIEVE) COME TAKE A LITTLE LOOK AT OUR BAKERY A LITTLE LOOK AT OUR HOUSE OTHER MEN MIGHT LOOK AT THAT SIGHT AND ONLY SEE 4 HOUSE. BUT I CAN SEE SOME PLACE GRANDER THAN THAT COLISEUM IN ROME ASK ME WHAT, GENEVIEVE ALL RIGHT, WHAT?The Baker's Wife 124 AIMABLE 1CAN SEE... A HOME! MERCI, MADAME MERCI, MADAME YOU MAKE A HOME FOR US POMPOM AND I AGREE, MADAME. HARD FOR A CAT TO SHOW ITS GRATITUDE AND SO1 AM MERCI, MERCI, MADAME... (Dances with POMPOM) Come on, Pompom. (Initates cat's voice, as if POMPOM is speaking to GENEVIEVE) ROWR ROWR ROWR ROWR ROWR RADAME... (Puls POMPOM out) Out you go, explore your new home. Don't forget to come back (fo Genevieve) KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE THINKING EXACTLY WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND, THINKING WE'VE FOUND THE BEST PLACE WE COULD FIND. BUT I CAN IMAGINE SOME PLACE I WOULD RATHER BE, IT’S TRUE ASK ME WHERE, GENEVIEVE ALL RIGHT, WHERE? AMIABLE HERE — A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOU TO SAY MERCI, MADAME. MERCI, MADAME, IF YOU ARE THERE, THEN THAT IS WHERE I WANT TO BE, MADAME SIT ON MY LAP AND I'M AS HAPPY AS A GIANT CLAM MERCI, MERCI, HERE'S A PROMISE AS WE START OUR BRAND NEW LIFE‘The Baker's Wife 125 FROM THE VILLAGE BAKER TO THE BAKER'S WIFE: 1 WILL TRY TO MAKE YOU HAPPY I WILL TRY MY WHOLE LIFE THROUGH 1 WILL TRY TO MAKE EACH DAY BRIGHT FOR YOU... (GENEVIEVE YOU DO, AIMABLE. YOU DO. GENEVIEVE, AIMABLE NO ONB ELSE I'VE EVER KNOWN I WILL TRY TO MAKE HAS EVER REALLY SEEMED TO CARE ‘YOU HAPPY JUST WHEN I WAS MOST ALONE. I WILL TRY MY WHOLE ‘AND FEELING HOPELESS LIFE THROUGH YOU WERE THERE TO MAKE EACH EMPTY DAY I WILL TRY TO MAKE EACH DAY $0 BRIGHT FOR ME BRIGHT FOR YOU AIMABLE PICTURE OUR FUTURE LIKE... A BIG CROISSANT FRESH AND WARM AND LIGHT PICTURE US DANCING THROUGH THE DAYS TO COME STARTING FROM TONIGHT (AIMABLE takes her and THEY dance together, whirling faster and faster and faster...) AIMABLE ‘MERCI, MADAME, MERCI, AGAIN LOOK WHAT YOU DID UM LIKE A KID OF... FORTY-THREE AGAIN! TT SEEMS YOUR AGE IS AS CONTAGIOUS AS A CASE OF FLU LOOK AT THIS. (Does a litle atidetic step) LOOK AT THAT... (Picks her up and spins her around) I'VE GOT A NEW LIFE A SWEET WIFE AND SOMEDAY IF MAYBE,The Baker's Wife WE COULD HAVE A BABY WHAT BLSE IS THERE TO SAY BESIDES MERCI, MADAME. GENEVIBVE DON'T GO ON THIS WAY I'M THE ONE TO SAY MERCI, MONSIEUR .. BorH MERCI BEAUCOUP! AIMABLE I must start the bread for tomorrow. GENEVIEVE Tl help you light the oven. AIMABLE No, no, You're tired. Go to bed, my darling. Il be up shostly. GENEVIEVE (Starts up) Good night, Aimable. AIMABLE, Good night, Genevieve. (Watches her lee. To himsel. Good night... Madame Castagnet.131 ‘The Baker's Wife ACT ONE. SCENE 3 (Next morning. VILLAGERS, some not even completely dressed, begin to arrive, drawn by the smell of the freshly baked bread.) TEACHER AH, THERE’S THAT WONDERFUL SMELL PRIEST AH, THERE'S THAT HEAVENLY AROMA PIERRE AH, THAT DELICIOUS. DENISE AH, THAT INVITING... CASIMIR i "AH, THAT FAMILIAR, ‘ ALL i AHHH. : FRESH, WARM BREAD WHAT IS THERE LIKE FRESH, WARM BREAD? PRIEST WITH A BIT OF BUTTER SPREAD. MARQUIS SHEER AMBROSIA! CLAUDE, WHAT IS SO LUSCIOUS AS A BRIOCHE IS? ALL. WHEN YOU'RE FED EVERY DAY ON FRESH, WARM BREAD IS FRIGHTENING HOW QUICK YOU GET ADDICTED FRESH, WARM BREAD (They see the bread, displayed beautifully in the bakery. AIMABLE and GENEVIEVE stand by it proudly.) DOUMERGUE LOOK! THERE!The Baker's Wife 132 ANTOINE ‘WHERE? DOUMERGUE, THERE! ANTOINE, OH, MY GOD! DOUMERGUE IT’S ABSOLUTELY... HORTENSE, ‘YES, I THINK IT'S... PRIEST WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE? PHILIPPE SO BROWN, NIECES NO, TAN. THERESE NO, BEIGE... CLAUDE, IT’S ABSOLUTELY... DENISE GOLDEN... MARQUIS TAGREE CASIMIR AND WHAT A FRAGRANCE... SIMONE, SMELL IT! NICOLE TASTE IT! INEZ NO, JUST LOOK AT IT A MOMENT. MARQUIS AND THIS CRUST IS REALLY...‘The Baker's Wife FIRM, BUT NOT TOO... YES, IT’S $0... LET ME FEEL! CRUNCHY, YET ... SOFT INSIDE. BOLD In ‘QUEEZE IT! SNIFF IT! STROKE IT! LOVELY! PERFECT! ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY Tell him to stop pushing! ‘Tell him 1 was here first! THERESE DOUMERGUE ANTOINE, HORTENSE PIERRE THERESE NIECES CLAUDE ANTOINE WOMEN MEN ALL BARNABY CASIMIR (An argument breaks out) AIMABLE Pleaset Please, you will all be served. (He breaks @ piece of bread and hands one fo each to taste.) MMM, THIS... CASIMIRThe Baker's Wife OOH, THIS. OH MY Gop! IT'S ABSOLUTELY ... NO, IT’S BETTER... LET ME HAVE A BITE... SO CRISP... NO, SMOOTH... NO, LIGHT... 17S ABSOLUTELY... GOLDEN, ‘YOU'RE SO RIGHT... AND WHAT A TEXTURE... CHEW IT! TASTE IT! THIS CROISSANT’S A WORK A TREASURE! MEL‘TING IN YOUR... Lad BARNABY CASIMIR BARNABY CASIMIR PRIEST CLAUDE NIECES ‘THERESE BARNABY DENISE MARQUIS PUERRE ANTOINE NICOLE MARQUIS OF ART! BARNABY CLAUDE‘the Baker's Wife 135, DOUMERGUE RUNNING DOWN YOUR. HORTENSE CREAMY SWEET. NIECES STEAMY HOT... ‘THERESE IT'S ASIN! PRIEST NO, IT’S NOT! ANTOINE, GULP IT. PHILIPPE MUNCH IT. NIECES CHOMP IT. CLAUDE CRUNCH IT. WOMEN GORGEOUS! MEN SCRUMPTIOUS! ALL ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY FRESH, WARM BREAD YOU CAN KEEP YOUR LEG OF LAMB. WHO WOULD EVER HOG A HAM? MARQUIS: NOW I ASK YOU, WHO COULD BE SELFISH OVER A SHELLFISH? ALL AH, BUT BREAD... PRIEST MAYBE WITH A DROP OF JAM.The Baker's Wife THERE'S NO OTHER FOOD LIGHTENS YOUR MOOD LIKE FRESH, WARM FRESH, WARM BREAD NEVER TAKE MY FRESH, WARM BREAD. CLAUDE, BARNABY, CASIMIR, PIERRE. YOU CAN TAKE MY WIFE INSTEAD DENISE AND HORTENSE TAKE MY HUSBAND! ALL TLL KISS THE HAND WHICH HANDS ME A SANDWICH AS WE SAID “TIL WE'RE FINALLY COLD AND DEAD DEAR AIMABLE CASTAGNET, OUR BELOVED BOULANGER, WON'T YOU GIVE TO US EACH DAY OUR DAILY BREAD! MARQUIS Magnificent! I have tasted bread and pastries in many parts of the world and never have I tasted a more miraculous loaf. PRIEST (Draws MARQUIS aside) ‘Mle Marquis, ¢ word with you, if you piease. MARQUIS (Annoyed) Yes? PRIEST Tam most distressed that you have brought these ... ladies with you. I’m sure our new baker would be shocked to learn that you are living with ... several women. MARQUIS But sir, you are forgetting - they are my nieces. PRIEST You are forgetting - I am your confessor.‘The Baker's Wife MARQUIS 1 think it is in poor taste for you to ‘ake ddvantage of it, (Turns to AIMABLE) Ak, M Lanfygnet, I will require fen. no twelve loaves Shree times a week. My man Dominique will fal for them. And some croissants NICOLE ‘And brioches. I could eat a dozen of them. SIMONE. ‘And you have. I’ve seen you. INEZ (To AIMABLE) ‘that’s true, Nicole sally can’t control hersolf when she sees food. Only last night she... MARQUIS (Cutting her off) my litle nieces are particularly fond of croissants at breakfast {MARQUIS and NIECES exit} Nieces, haht DENISE (To THERESE) If the Marquis says they are nieces, they are nieces. Perhaps not his nieces, but what does it matter? BARNABY Hey, baker, how come your bread is twice as good as old Fouget’s? CASIMIR Claude, tll him not to talk with his mouth ful, spitting bread ell over the place BARNABY Tell him to mind his own stupid business. (AIMABLE looks at them, bewildered.) DENISE They don’t speak to each other. AIMABLE Why not? DENISE You'd better ask them.The Baker's Wife CASIMIR, I don’t know. Our grandfathers didi’ speak, nor did our fathers. They didn’t know why either. But it goes back a long way so it must have been serious. (BARNABY nods in agreement) ANTOINE, Baker ... How does a rum looking old man like you get such a good-looking wife? DENISE Antoine! AIMABLE How did I get her? I don’t know. God was good to me. PRIEST Well said, bakes. God matches each to each with infinite care. CLAUDE Then why was he so careless at my wedding? DENISE ‘You will pay for that, Claude. (VILLAGERS laugh. GENEVIEVE enters from the bakery.) = HORTENSE Have you been married long, baker? AIMABLE No, not long ... A few months. THERESE Did you know her long before you married her? AIMABLE No, not long ‘CASIMIR Where were you married? AIMABLE Where we lived ... in Marseilles. BARNABY Were you married before, baker? AIMABLE No, this is the first time...My, isn’t everyone friendly here,‘The Baker's Wife PIERRE ‘Ah, there's nothing like beautiful woman to give a man an appetite ANTOINE, And not only for bread! ‘THERESE Pigt CASIMIR You certainly have good eyes, baker, to have picked such a pretty woman. AIMABLE Thank you. ANTOINE Let's hope the rest of you works as well as your eyes. (The MEN laugh.) GENEVIEVE, (To VILLAGERS) Please! My husband not only chose me, I chose him. And I'm happy I did. In fact, I've never been happier. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must clean up. (She smiles at them and goes into the bakery. But once inside , she breaks into tears.) } | 3 ‘TRACHER (To AIMABLE) Come fo the cafe, OUMERGUE (As they start off) If L bring you some anchovies, can you bake me a pie by tomorrow morning? AIMABLE ‘course, Just leave them at the bakery tonighti The Baker's Wife ACT ONE . Scene 4 SET: THE BAKERY. Immediately following. GENEVIEVE é (To herself) Stop it... just stop it, What's the matter with me? I have so much to be thankfu for. “T WILL TRY TO MAKE YOU HAPPY I WILL TRY MY WHOLE LIFE THROUGH...” A FRESH-PICKED ROSE BESIDE MY BED ‘THE COFFEE POT THERE HOT THERE WHEN I RAISE MY HEAD EACH DAY THE FIRST THING I SEE HIS LITTLE GIFTS OF LOVE FOR ME. WHEN DAYS WERE COLD WHEN NIGHTS GOT TOUGH I THOUGHT HIS SMALL WAYS. ALWAYS 5 OUGHT TO BE ENOUGH. SO NOW WHY SHOULD MY SMILE BE DIM ACCEPTING GIFTS OF LOVE FROM HIM. HE IS‘SO KIND AND SWEET AND DEAR AND GOD KNOWS HE GIVES HIS ALL, SO WHY BOI STAND HERE REMEMBERING PAUL? PAUL... ISEE HIS GRIN AGAIN ISMELL HIS HAIR AGAIN 1 TOUCH HIS SKIN AND THAT CURVE IN HIS BACK AND I WISH I WAS THERE AGAIN, BUT I'VE GOT TO FACE AT LAST PAUL IS WITH HIS WIFE AND ALL IN THE PAST 1S THE LOVE IN MY LIFE, SO START LIVING THE REST OF IT... I'VE CHOSEN THIS WITH AIMABLE EYES OPEN WIDE142 The Baker's Wife AND IF I MISS WITH ATMABLE ‘A LITTLE SPARK INSIDE WELL, IT'S TIME I WAS MAKING THE BEST OF IT. YL SHARE HIS BED, RETURN HIS TOUCH LET OLD DREAMS DIE NOW BY NOW ] SHOULDN'T MIND SO MUCH AND THIS | SWEAR BY GOD ABOVE - ‘MY CHOICE IS MADE IF HOPE MUST FADE WELL...THAT’S WHAT I PAID FOR GIFTS OF LOVE... (AIMABLE enters. GENEVIEVE turns.) AIMABLE It’s amazing, Do you know, I don’t think I’ve sold so much bread in one morning since I became a baker. . AIMABLE greets her.) (HORTENSE enle AIMABLE Madame. (HORTENSE nods to AIMABLE) HORTENSE (To GENEVIEVE) I would like two baguettes, two croissants, and four tarts (AIMABLE exits to back room.) GENEVIEVE The strawberry ones? (DOMINIQUE enters. GENEVIEVE notices him. Throughout the following, she is unsettled by DOMINIQUE’S presence.) HORTENSS No, those... the cherry ones. My husband is very fond of those. AIMABLE, (Re-entering) ‘There's a good wife. Nothing makes for a happier marriage than a little Jove and # Castagnet tart. (HORTENSE chuckles.)The Baker's Wife 143 AIMABLE (To Dominique) Can I help you? DOMINIQUE (Eyeing GENEVIEVE) T came for the Mazquis’s order...twelve loaves of bread, AIMABLE Of course, Il just...(We hear sound of cat offstage.) Why is she yowling like that? GENEVIEVE (Starts to hand order to HORTENSE) Here you are. HORTENSE ‘No, not those. I did say...the cherry ones. GENEVIEVE, (Flustered) Oh, yes. (Hands her order) AIMABLE (Looking out the window) My God, Pompom is caught in the tree. Poor little thing. (He hurries owt) HORTENSE (As GENEVIEVE turns away) I didn’t pay you. (Pays her) GENEVIEVE Oh, thanks... (HORTENSE exits.) Twelve loaves, you said? (She turns to DOMINIQUE) DOMINIQUE That's right (GENEVIEVE starts pulting loaves in bag.) DOMINIQUE Your father seems like a nice man. GENEVIEVE (Gives him a look) He's not my father, he’s my husband.‘The Baker's Wife 44 DOMINIQUE Oh, J'm sorry. I thought because you're so young... I'm sorry, SENEVIEVE ‘That's all right. DOMINIQUE (After a pause) I could help him get the cat. GENEVIEVE. No, he can manage. He's not so old. DOMINIQUE 1 just thought. GENEVIEVE That's all right. (Introduces a neutral subject) Tell me, what kind of work do you do for the Marquis? DOMINIQUE “nything. Drive his cat. take care of his horses...whatever he needs, mademoiselle. GENEVIEVE, Madame! DOMINIQUE Excuse me, I’m sorry. GENEVIEVE ‘That's all right. DOMINIQUE (Coming to stand closer to her) lost count. Is that five? GENEVIEVE, six DOMINIQUE {ts just that you're so young to be married to GENEVIEVE (Breaks in) You've just said that! DOMINIQUE “m sorry ... Excuse me, I've lost count again. GENEVIEVE, Right. Why do you keep apologizing?The Baker's Wij 145 DOMINIQUE I don’t know... 'm sorry. (She laughs. He joins in, more sure of himself) Have you been married long? GENEVIEVE Why do you ask? DOMINIQUE, I don't know. I just asked. Isn’t your husband jealous? GENEVIEVE Jealous? Why should he be jealous? DOMINIQUE Because someone like you... If you were mine, I wouldn't leave you alone for a second. (Sk doesn’t answer.) Do you know what I think? GENEVIEVE Never mind, DOMINIQUE Yl tell you, GENEVIEVE I said never mind! ... Now you've made me lose count. DOMINIQUE Eleven. GENEVIEVE Twelve. DOMINIQUE 1 think... GENEVIEVE Listen. You came for bread, That's what you get. That's all you get! AIMABLE (Entering) ‘That silly cat has run off... hope she can find her way back...(To Dominique) Did you get everything you wanted? DOMINIQUE (Looks at GENEVIEVE} I think so ... Good day, monsieur.146 ‘The Baker’s Wife AIMABLE Good day. DOMINIQUE Madame... (She nods. He exits.) AIMABLE ‘A fine-looking young man, isn’t he? GENEVIEVE Aimable... AIMABLE Yes? (GENEVIEVE Aren’t you ever jealous? AIMABLE tealous? Because other men find you beautiful? Why should I be jealous? I have a diamond ind itis shining in their eyes...Let them be jealous, not me...I love you. GENEVIEVE Tknow you do. AIMABLE You never say “I love you” back. Buf that’s all right. Il say it for both of us, 60 it’s always in om the air..(Mimics a conversation) “L love you"... “I love you" ... “I love you"... “I love you".. ove you"...’T love you” (GENEVIEVE laughs as he exits.)The Baker's Wife ACT ONE SCENE 5 SET: Village square .. afternoon, two weeks tater. 4 TOOf top..Some underwear, including a pair of bloomers {a petticoat, nightgown, etc). are caught on the roop..Phey are pointing, laughing .. THERESE looks up, distressed...) AT RISE: (Some VILLAGERS, roaring with laughter, as they look up I (CASIMIR rushes on.) CASIMIR i What's happened? j DOUMERGUE ; (Pointing) } Look...Therese’s underwear. ANTOINE The wind..blew them up from her clothes fine (CASIMIR bursts into laughter, joined by others.) THERESE Please, messieurs, won't somebody... CASIMIR (Mocking, fake surprise) Therese, those dainty little pink bloomers are yours? DENISE Aren’t you men ashamed? (GENEVIEVE enters, carrying shopping bag.) CLAUDE We should be ashamed! She shows her underwear in public and we should be ashamed! (MEN laugh) PIERRE Imagine! We are the first men in the world actually to see those bloomers! BARNABY And they're still out of reach! (MEN laugh..DOMINIQUE enters during following.) HORTENSE Poor Therese! It’s nothing to laugh about. (SHE laughs)‘THERESE igs, all of you! GENEVIEVE t someone got a ladder? Hasn't someon A MINIQUE notices her concern) PIERRE What we want to know is - who's going to be the fist man to get Therese’s bloomers down, “THERESE Stop that! (hey tangh.. DOMINIQUE slaris to climb up. They watch him silently. He retrieves the underwear. MEN cheer.) MEN Bravo! ANTOINE He has captured the flag! (DOMINIQUE climbs down...hands underwear to THERESE. She mumbles, embarrassed and hurries off. OTHERS exit.) GENEVIEVE ‘That was good of you. Thank you. DOMINIQUE It was nothing. GENEVIEVE Well..thank you. DOMINIQUE No trouble, (SHE starts fo exit) Are you angry with me? (GENEVIEVE What? DOMINIQUE Are you angry with me? GENEVIEVE Angry? No. DOMINIQUE Yes, you are - Every time I see you, you turn away. Like when ] happened to see you shopping yesterday... \The Baker's Wife GENEVIEVE And the day before that and the day before that - DOMINIQUE So you are angry. GENEVIEVE Well... don’t enjoy being stared at. DOMINIQUE Look - I don’t know what you heard about me. GENEVIEVE T've heard nothing about you. DOMINIQUE Well, let me tell you - Are you busy at the moment? GENEVIEVE Yes. DOMINIQUE Because I have the Marquis’ car for the afternoon and thought... GENBVIEVE Tm busy. DOMINIQUE i ‘There are some nice places around here I eould show you. GENEVIEVE You keep forgetting I'm a married woman. DOMINIQUE But what harm is there in a nice little drive? GENEVIEVE Listen, Once and for all. I'm a married woman, My husband is a good man. I would never & anything to hurt him. Do you understand? DOMINIQUE I understand. GENEVIEVE Good. (She starts off) DOMINIQUE How about tomorrow afternoon?‘tne aaker’s Wife (GENEVIEVE stops, glares at hit, and exits.) DOMINIQUE Ad, MIN LOVE AGAIN TMIN LOVE, I'M IN LOVE AND ISN'T IT A CRIME? ANTTIT A CRYING SHAME THAT THE LOVE OF MY LIFE SHOULD HAVE TO BE ANOTHER MAN'S WET Sop I'VE FINALLY FOUND THE ONE TRUE LOVE OF MY LIFE. SHE SPLITS MY SENSES AT THE SEAMS SHE SENDS A SHIVER UP MY SPINE 1 SEE HER BODY IN MY DREAMS ‘AND IF SHE'S NORMAL, SHE SEES MINE. SHE'S ALL I’M EVER THINKING OF HER MOUTH, HER HAIR, AND ALL THE REST [THINK ALL WOMAN SHOULD HAVE LOVE ‘AND ONE LIKE HER SHOULD HAVE THE BEST! THERE IS NO RULE OR LAW IN HEAVEN OR ON EARTH BRE IS NO WAY TO STOP THIS FIRE ONCE IT STARTS _) LIPS AND HANDS AND HEARTS [AND OTHER MOVING PARTS. AND I'M SINGING OH, PROUD LADY : YOU AND I BOTH KNOW SOMEDAY YOU WILL BE MINE AND WE'LL GO TO A PLACE WHERE THE GRASS 1S COOL AND SHADY AND WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE, YOU'LL COME INTO MY ARMS AND LOVE WILL FLOW LIKE WINE... ; PHILIPPE (Runs ont) Dominique, Celeste says she will wait for you by. DOMINIQUE Ym not interested. Tell her I'm not interested. PHILIPPE But. DOMINIQUE Ym not interested. In her or any of the others. (PHILIPPE: exits)| | ' The Baker's Wife —____DOMINIQUE________ WHAT WAY IS RIGHT TO TURN HER HEAD? WHAT DO I SAY? WHAT DO I WEAR? MY BELT IS TIGHT, MY SHIRT IS RED AND OPEN JUST ENOUGH TO SHOW A LITTLE HAIR NO OTHER GIRL I'VE EVER KNOWN HAS LOOKED AS HOT AND KEPT AS COOL I KNOW SHE CAN'T BE MADE OF STONE 1 KNOW I CAN'T BE SUCH A FOOL. NO MATTER WHAT THE PAIN, NO MATTER WHAT THE PRICE NO MATTER WHAT, I WOULDN'T STOP IT IF 1 COULD HOW CAN A THING BE BAD WHEN IT FEELS SO GOOD? AND I'M SINGING OH, PROUD LADY YOU AND 1 BOTH KNOW OH, YES, YOU WILL BE MINE, AND WE'LL GO TO THAT PLACE WHERE THE GRASS IS COOL AND SHADY AND WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE, YOU'LL COME INTO MY ARMS AND LOVE WILL FLOW LIKE WINE. I'M IN LOVE MIN LOVE, AGAIN I'M IN LOVE, I’M IN LOVE AND ISN'T IT A CRIME ISN'T IT A CRYING SHAME THAT THE LOVE OF MY LIFE SHOULD HAVE TO BE ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE... WELL, ’M SORRY FOR THE GUY BUT THERE'S NOTHING 1 WON'T TRY TO WIN THE ONE TRUE LOVE OF MY WHOLE LIFE!ACT ONE SCENE 6 EXTERIOR: (the cafe..Villagers seated at tables, Denise serving. Doumergue and Barnaby are playing boules... DOUMERGUE ‘oor shot BARNABY the sun was in my eyes. CASIMIR ’s, the sun shines strong today. PIERRE (At table, bitterly) i sything but my spinach gardent DOUMERGUE will not cut down my oak treet PIERRE, hen 1 will cut it down, DOUMERGUE ou cut down my oak tree, I will have my horse trample your gardent PIERRE ou have your horse trample’ my garden, I will shoot your horse! DOUMERGUE ou shoot my horse, I will burn your house! PIERRE ou burn my house, I will kill your wife! DOUMERGUE Play MARQUIS enise, another glass if you please and a bottle of your finest wine to go with this extraordinary eat, this delicious tart, that our genius of a baker has prepared for us... These past three weeks, wc meal has been a feast. I drink to him,The Baker's Wife 16.2 TEACHER And aside from his culinary ability, M Aimable is most aptly named. He seems « thorougl friendly man, CASIMIR Who wouldn’t be, with a young and pretty wife like that? CLAUDE Tonce had a young and pretty wife. TEACHER You did? You had no wife before Denise. é CLAUDE ‘That's the one I mean. (All laugh) DENISE (Sweetly) ‘Well, speaking for myself, I like marriage...not necessarily mine! (They laugh) HORTENSE Well in my opinion...Once you're married... BARNABY Did anyone ask you for your opinion? I didn’t hear anyone ask your opinion THERESE My father always warned mye against marriage. Oh, you may not know it, but Iwas quite sought after in my time. ANTOINE (Slightly tipsy) How could we know it? None of us were born then, (All laugh) PRIEST Please, I ask of you all not fo speak in this unseemly way about the bonds of matrimony. They are holy. Now you take the baker and his wife. ANTOINE You can take the baker...U take the wife. (He laughs)The Baker's Wife 163 ‘THERESE Men! All beasts! Thank God I never married. SEVERAL MEN Ament MARQUIS You know what's wrong with the marriage vows?...”Till death do us part"... That's too long...much too long PRIEST making ¢ mockery of the marriage vows...that’s close to blasphemy. M le Marquis, "TEACHER Blasphemy?... Ah, you men of the cloth..placing such large labels on such small thoughts. MARQUIS (To TEACHER) My thoughts may be small, but unlike you my mind is not narrow. (GENEVIEVE enters, sits at table.) GENEVIEVE Denise, a glass of white wine and a coffee, please. ANTOINE, Where, may 1 ask, is your husband, madame? GENEVIEVE ining me shortly. ANTOINE (Rises, holding glass, goes to her) Meantime - may I join you? GENEVIBVE No, thank you. I'd rather be alone ANTOINE Why? (He sits.) GENEVIEVE My husband will be here in a minute. ANTOINE m just being friendly. CLAUDE Antoine. (Indicates he should get wp.)‘The Baker's Wife ANTOINE, Why? We're having a nice conversation, aren't we, madame? I'll say something to you ang you'll say something to me and then. Til say something and... (AIMABLE enters, sits.) ANTOINE (Sees AIMABLE) | ‘Ah, M Baker...Have a drink’. i AIMABLE Idon't drink. ANTOINE a toast... To you, M Baker and to you, Madame Baker..May you be happy a No? Well, I d have many children. AIMABLE Many children? Well, 1 hope so... ANTOINE Do you think you can still make children, M Baker. AIMABLE Antoine, ANTOINE Because making a baby is different from making a croissant...(ke laughs)..Isn’t that so, Madam DOMINIQUE (Rushes over, picks him up) Excuse me, baker. (To Antoine} You were told to leave. So you're leaving. ANTOINE Jam not! DOMINIQUE Yes you are. (Hiis him) ANTOINE (Falls to ground) He hit met He hit me! (DOMINIQUE picks him up, throws him out of the cafe. Others watch, shocked, DOMINIQUE turns to GENEVIEVE, smiles, bows slightly.)re Baker's Wife 165, GENEVIEVE jyho asked you to interfere? DOMINIQUE the man was insulting you. GENEVIEVE ir was not your affaic Stay out of my affairs! AIMABLE, Genevieve, he was only trying to GENEVIEVE ienow what he was trying to do! (She exits angrily followed by AIMABLE; DOMINIQUE signals 10 PHILLIPE and they also exit.) HORTENSE ‘yiny couldn't Antoine just leave them alone? ‘THERESE Wat, why couldn’t that boy jast mind his own business? CLAUDE What about her? BARNABY ‘Would it have hurt her to let him sit at her table? CASIMIR ‘Ws always the way. I's when the hen walks into the barnyard that the roosters start pecking at each other, TEACHER se words, my friend. (During the following, the WOMEN become increasingly ingulted, and ‘he ond ofthe song, all icoe left the cafe, leaving the MEN to themselves.) WHEN YOU SEE A PEACE-LOVING MAN IN A QUARREL ‘WHEN YOU SEE A ‘MILD-MANNERED GENT IN A BRAWL WHEN YOU SEE A CHAP IN A PIP OF A SCRAP DO YOU WONDER JUST ‘WHAT HAPPENED ‘TO TRIGGER IT ALL? DO YOU WONDER WHAT NOBLE CAUSE BELIEF OR CONVICTION HE IS FIGHTING FOR? LOOK FOR THE WOMAN ~ SLIPPING OUT THE DOOR... el‘The Baker's Wife BARNABY WOMEN LIKE TO ACT LIKE A DELICATE FLOWER CLAUDE WOMEN LIKE TO ACT LIKE A FRAIL LITTLE BUD BOTH WOMEN LIKE TO ACT LIKE I1’S CLEARLY A FACT SEY RE COMPLETELY UNATTRACTED TO CARNAGE AND BLOOD BAKNABY BUT WALK IN ANY BARROOM AND LOOK FOR ‘A COUPLE OF FELLOWS IN A VIOLENT FIGHT CLAUDE ‘THEN LOOK FOR THE WOMAN BOTH SQUEALING WITH DELIGHT. PIERRE ‘THERE'S A MAN I KNEW OF HE HATED TO GO ANYWHERE ‘MET A GIRL, FELL IN LOVE HE'S NOW A FOREIGN LEGIONNAIRE, MARQUIS ‘TAKE NAPOLEON, OUR OWN LITTLE CORPORAL JAKE NAPOLEON, WE WERE TAUGHT HE WAS SMALL WHAT WE NEVER GLEAN JS BEFORE JOSEPHINE EVER CAME UPON THE SCENE. ALL SIX FEET TALL! CLAUDE, BARNABY Jp YOU'RE EVER THINKING A MAN MAY BE SHRINKING IT OUGHT TO COME AS NO SURPRISE LOOK FOR THE WOMAN WHO CUT HIM DOWN TO SIZE ALL. PUT THE BLAME ON US FOR THE TRAPS WE FALL INTO BARNABY PUT THE BLAME ON US FOR THE TRICKS WE ALLOW ingCLAUDE RD KNOWS WE'VE BEEN BURNED CASIMIR ID WHERE SEX IS CONCERNED ‘TEACHER U WOULD THINK WE WOULD HAVE LEARNED AVOID IT BY NOW ALL T AS LONG AS WOMEN ARE WOMEN FOLLOWS INEVITABLY IN ARE MEN IAT LUCK FOR THE WOMAN HEN WE LACK FOR THE WOMAN F YE LOOK FOR THE WOMAN, ID WE DO IT ALL AGAIN.The Baker's Wife LP ACT ONE SCENE 7 SET: Interior bakery. Immediately following. AIMABLE Don’t be upset, my love. It was just a little squabble, it meant nothing. GENEVIEVE Meant nothing? They make stupid jokes about us ... an old man married to @ young woman. AIMABLE Oh, that .. it’s just good-natured fun .. and maybe a little envy, because after all, they don’t have you and I do. GENEVIEVE ‘And that... that...what's his name? ..Dominique... who does he think he is? ATMABLE Well, he was only trying to help ...I mean, perhaps he was a little headstrong ... after all, he' quite young ... but I suppose he meant well. GENEVIEVE ‘Meant well? Meant well? (turns, looks at AIMABLE) Aimable, you don’t know people. Youd know them at all AIMABLE, Of course I co. People are really decent ... Of course there are exceptions ... [know you've met some ... but if you give them a chance, people are really decent ... you'll see. GENEVIEVE ‘You don't know people ... You don’t even know me. AIMABLE, How can you say that? Who can know you betie:? You're my wife... my blessing... my angel... (SHE turns from him) o Come to bed... know you're upset, my love... This nuisance in the cafe... and Pompom stil isn’t home... But tomorrow will be different, you'll see... The sun will shine, Pompom will return, things will be bright again. (THEY go upstairs, begin getting ready for bed. Simultaneously, we see CLAUDE and DENISE geiting ready for bed in their room above the cafe. CLAUDE pays no attention to her)he Baker's Wife La DENISE AND THE WIND CHANGES COURSE (AND THE MOON CHANGES PHASE ‘AND THE WORLD SPINS AROUND. WITH THE GREENS AND THE GRAYS AND YOU NEVER TAKE TIME OUT TO THINK OF THE WAYS: EVERYTHING MIGHT BE DIFFERENT. (DOMINIQUE and PHILIPPE, carrying a guitar, enter the square ouiside bakery) PHILIPPE (Whispering nervously) ominique, you're crazy, you know thal? DOMINIQUE sstdo as tell you. PHILIPPE oe you know, you're mad. DOMINIQUE am, I'm mad about her. I never felt like this before. Play. (PHILIPPE strums a chord on his guitar) DOMINIQUE \HH... AHH... AHHH. (AIMABLE starts, looks towards the windoco) AIMABLE Vhat's that? (GENEVIBVE don’t know. DOMINIQUE \HH... AHH,,.AHHH. (AIMABLE looks out the window) DOMINIQUE BAKER, DEAR BAKER WE ALL SHOULD KNEEL DOWN TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING EASURES TO TOWN wE SHOULD KNBEL DOWN.‘The Baker's Wife AIMABLE It’s the Marquis’s man... You see, he's tying #9 make up for the trouble in the cafe. DOMINIQUE ‘TREASURES OF YOURS {UNTIFUL AND SWEET TN, YOU DO HAVE A GREAT DEAT OF THEM BUT TREASURES NEED EYES THAT RECOGNIZE A TREAT HANDS THAT VALUE THE FEEL OF THEM TH BOI GENEVIEVE. ‘Aimable... tell them to go away: AIMABLE vs and give them some pastries and send them off Just go dow: GENEVIEVE Aimable AIMABLE Please .. Ym not dressed. Before he wakes uP the whole village... Just thank them for me (She staris down) \ DOMINIQUE WE'LL HAVE A FRAST OF COUNTLESS PLEASURES WITH ALL MY SENSES ‘AND ALL YOUR TREASURES 282g toarens rooLt aker’s Wife ‘DOMINIQUE, PHILIPPE AIMABLE, (GENEVIEVE gf TREASURES OF YOURS YOU'RE MUCH TOO KIND YOU'RE SUCH A PEST D THESE LIPS OF MINE BUTI DON’T MIND YM NOT IMPRESSED 1 3 THAT HUNGER BE TASTING THEM... Y’'VE NEVER BEEN SO. FLATTERED IN MY LIFE... \yT LET THEM SPOIL TO FEBL SO STRONG TO BE SO MEAN SHER ON THE VINE YOU MAKE A SONG :YOU MAKE A SCENE CH APITY BE WASTING THEM ‘BUT NEXT TIME, PLEASE SING SOMETHING FOR MY WIEE. R THEY WON'T LAST WHAT A SERENADE WHAT A SERENADE BASURES GO SO FAST BUT A SERENADE BUT A SERENADE LET'S DO 4AT WE MUST DO DESERVES A GIFT 1S NOTHING ) OR TWO... SIRE YESH TREASURES OF YOURS 31 TREASURE YOU. (DOMINIQUE enters the bakery. GENEVIEVE starts to hand iim some pasties) GNEVIEVE ere are some... (te grabs her and kisses her. She pulls ay ) ‘lease don’t do this. DOMINIQUE “ook at me! Will you look at met «I can’t keep away from you. I'll do anything &© be with ‘ou Hae (GENEVIEVE Stop it, he'll hear you DOMINIQUE You can’t stay here with him. You'll dry up «. you'll die. GENEVIEVE Don't do this. Please!‘The Baker's Wife DOMINIQUE You're’ still young. We're both young. We belong together. You know it, don't you? don't you? (He kisses her. After a moment, she responds.) Come away with me, we'll go away together. (GENEVIEVS, What? DOMINIQUE Now. Tonight. I'l be by the church. In arvhour... [love you..(He exits from the bakery.) DOMINIQUE, PHILIFFE TO TREASURE THESE TREASURES OF YOURS AS I TREASURE YOU eR SSeS EOS AIMABLE ‘Thank you for the song. Good-night. (calls down to GENEVIEVE } They've gon« to bed, love. GENEVIEVE : (From downstairs) Ina minute. AIMABLE You know, it’s so late ... (yazons, gets into bed) Good night, my love. GENEVIEVE Good-night WHAT DOES HE THINK I AM? WHAT SORT OF A WEAK WILLED SENTIMENTAL SHEEP ‘DOES HE THINK 1 AM? WELL, I WON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT HIM, YLLJUST GO TO SLEEP! 1 WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS? 1 WHO COULD BE AS HANDSOME WHO COULD BE AS SMART AS HE THINKS HE IS? HE JUST HAS TO SNAP HIS FINGERS WOMEN FALL APART! WHAT DOES HE THINK? ‘THAT I'LL SLINK AWAY WITH HIM? ‘THAT I'LL FOLLOW HIM RIPE AND DROOLING? WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS? AND WHAT DOES HE THINK | AM? AND WHO DO I THINK (sighs) I'M FOOLING?177 GIRL, I HAD A BAVORITE STORY JWLARK WHO LIVED WHERE THE RIVERS WIND JLD MATCH THE ANGELS’ IN 11'S GLORY. ‘ST TIME 3LIND, THE LARK WAS BLIND. Ow? 2AM AND TOOK HER TO HIS PALACE VORST TIME ZE AND GOLDEN BRAID JALLS WERE BURNISHED BRON. Sh FRUIT AND NUTS FROM AN IVORY CHALICE MY MEADOWLARK, 3p THE SILVER MORNING, ly MEADOWLARK, YOU A PRICELESS JEWEL F BROCADE AND CREWEL 3 YOU FOR LIFE, ING FOR ME.” by AS THE LARK SANG BY THE WATER Aye SUN HEARD HER IN HIS FLIGHT GING MOVED HIM SO t § BROUGHT HER THE GIFT OF SIGHT, 7 xsIGHT NED HER EYES TO THE SHIMMER AND ‘THE SPLENDOR MEUL YOUNG GOD, SO PROUD AND STRONG. LED TO THE LARK {OTH ROUGH AND TENDER iG E, MY MEADOWLARK, B/ON THE SILVER MORNING | WHERE THE DOLPHINS BARK NCE ON THE CORAL BEACHES, BT OF THE PLUMS AND PEACHES AS YOUR VISION REACHES Hr ! ZADOWLARK SAID NO, DP KING LOVED HER SO NIT BEAR TO WOUND BIS PRIDE. UGOD FLEW AWAY. CAME DOWN THAT DAY HIS MEADOWLARK HAD DIED- ZI HEARD THAT PART I CRIED 1 STAND HERE STARRY-EYED AND. STORMY [HEN | THOUGHT MY HEART WAS FINALLY NUMB UL, YOUNG MAN APPEARS BEFORE ME, SOME YOU COME?”‘the Baker's Wife ACT ONE SCENE 8 Early morning. ‘Smoke is rising from the oven in the bakery. VILLAGERS gather outside PIERRE } smell smoke. DOUMERGUE gomething’s burning. “TEACHER Is the bakery BARNABY ‘A fire in the bakery ANTOINE ‘A fixe in the bakery « (ANTOINE, CLAUDE, BARNABY, DOUMERGUE rush tn.) CLAUDE It’s the oven ... Something’s burning ... (calls) Baker ... M Aimable .. ANTOINE Baker... BARNABY Are you there, DOUMERGUE Wake up... AIMABLE (Coming down) What? DOUMERGUE The oven! AIMABLE What is it? BARNABY ‘The oven ... There’s smoke.The Baker's Wife 182 AIMABLE What time is it? I must have overslept ... (Opens oven. There is a gush of smoke. He shovel come burnt loaves.) That's really well-done, isn’t’ it? I'm sorry, I'll have to start another | ‘Ym surprised my wife didn’t wake me. She's usually an early riser .. Where is she? CLAUDE We haven't see her. AIMABLE (Opens door, calls out) Genevieve ... Genevieve. CASIMIR (Holding a burnt loaf) It’s all ruined. AIMABLE Where can she be? CLAUDE We haven't seen her. AIMABLE 1 can‘t imagine ... Wait. I know. Our cat, Pompom, has run off and she’s out looking fe (hurries out) Genevieve... BARNABY What about the bread? AIMABLE Later..later...(collides with PRIEST as he goes out the door He goes off, calling.) Genevieve... Geneviev' (OTHERS have come out, are watching as PRIEST goes into bakery.) PRIEST (To MEN in bakery) ‘What's going on? Where's today’s bread? Isn’t it ready yet? CASIMIR Its all burned. BARNABY ‘The baker's wife has disappeared. PRIEST That's terrible! You mean all of it is burned? CLAUDE ‘You know, when a woman disappears in the middie of the night.rn ch ver, ‘The Baker's Wife DOUMERGUE ‘And a young, pretty woman lke that. BARNABY she certeinly didn’t go to visit her mother. (They exchange glances. Music under.) ALL THREE, Hammmm -- (hey whistle, OTHERS cho have overheard hurry to cafe) VILLAGERS BUZZ ABUZZ A-BUZZ DENISE, What? ANTOINE | When? | VILLAGERS (Whisper) PSG PSS PSS PSS PSSSSS. NICOLE Really? HORTENSE : “How awful! PIERRE ‘Terrible! VILLAGERS POOR MAN! THAT POOR UNHAPPY MAN } FEEL 50 SORRY FOR HIM, MY HEART IS SORE 1JUST CAN'T BEAR TO THINK ABOUT TT ‘TELL ME MORE. (VILLAGERS break into groups of gossipers) ‘VILLAGERS I REALLY SHOULDN'T TALK REALLY SHOULDNT TELL. BUT EVERYONE ELSE IS, SO I MIGHT AS WELL. LISTEN, ABOUT THE BAKER AND THAT WIFE OF HIS. THOUGH IMS NONE OF OUR BUS.SHHEt ‘THERE HE IStThe Baker's Wife (AIMABLE comes back, sees VILLAGERS looking at him.) AIMABLE, Good morning... VILLAGERS (Smile neroously) Good morning, AIMABLE By any chance, have any of you seen. NICOLE (Quickly) No... I haven't seen her... Sorry... (AIMABLE re-enters bakery as Villagers cluster again.) ‘VILLAGERS AIMABLE BUZZ A—BUZZ A-BUZZ I don't understand it. PSS PSS PSS PSS PSSSS Where in the world can she be? TCH TCH TCH TCH TCH... AIMABLE Unless, of course, she left a note. Of course! A note! Why didn’t I think of it before? (Starts upstairs) CLAUDE But what about the bread? ‘TEACHER Aren’t you going to prepare a new batch? AIMABLE (Calls from upstairs) Soon... I just want to find the note. VILLAGERS ISN'T IT AWFUL NEWS? ISN'T IT ALL TOO SAD? 1 DON'T REMEMBER WHEN I FELT $0 BAD WHEN YOU HEAR NEWS LIKE THIS YOU WISH YOU HAD NO EARS I'M NEARLY IN TEARS THIS IS THE...185, ‘The Baker's Wi = ____— BEST THING TO HAPPEN IN THIS TOWN IN TWENTY YEARS. (MARQUIS enters followed by PHILIPPE) VILLAGERS MMM... MMM... MMM. MARQUIS (To PHILIPPE) Wait here. VILLAGERS BUZZ ABUZZ A—BUZZ... MARQUIS (Enters bakery) Monsieur Aimable. (PHILIPPE hurries over to group of VILLAGERS) VILLAGERS PSS PSS PSS PSS PSSS AIMABLE (Descending siairs) sait! OF course! I know Maybe the note blew out the window. I can’t imagine what else... Wait! of where she went! MARQUIS You do? AIMABLE Of course! She went to visit her mother! (MEN exchange glances) MARQUIS Her mother? AIMABLE . will hit her... 1 Of course! She cannot sleep... she is upset, confused...suddenly a moo ‘must falk to my mother MARQUIS: (To OTHERS in bakery) ae. Gentlemen, I wish to speak with the baker. (THEY nod, crowd around) Alor