French Cancan Page #6

To the strains of balalaikas

there was a scuffling midst begonias

But if passion ran colder, it was

"Throw him in the Volga!"

Our stalwart grenadiers

are on the march

Now the ladies applaud

their bayonet charge

But as Queen Hortensia remarked

as a palace ball progressed

"In their uniforms so vast

One has to guess the rest"

Long live the empress!

But as Queen Hortensia remarked

"One has to guess the rest"

Casimir, go introduce Esther.

Right, boss.

Remember, every man in the audience

must believe you sing for him alone.

Understand? Now go on.

Go and work the door.

Did you like that?

Now we invite you to breathe in

the scent of a little flower

from the streets of Montmartre.

Our newest star:
Esther Georges.

Above the rue Saint Vincent

A poet and an unknown girl

Loved for a brief moment

And never met again

Hoping the waif would hear it

for her he wrote this song

As she wandered the streets

One morning in spring

The waning moon

shimmering down

Crowns your gold hair

The gilded moon

with glory festoons

Your petticoat bare

The pallid moon

Starkly outlines

your tired opal eyes

Princess of the street

your welcome is sweet

In my wounded heart

The steps up the hill

Are steep for the lovelorn

But the windmills'sails

shield lovers from the storm

Little waif

I feel your small hand

searching for mine

I feel your heart beat

your waist so neat

My sorrows decline

Yet your lips betray, feverishly

The hunger of years

At your touch I feel a rush

That brings me to tears

The steps up the hill

Are steep for the lovelorn

But the windmills'sails

Shield lovers from the storm

But now the rain drips

The moon in eclipse

My princess has gone

A sky without moon

I sing forlorn

In search of my dream

- Go and announce Roberto.

- Again?

I work in a mortuary.

I should be used to tears!

And now, the Great Roberto,

the famous whistler.

The soul of a poet,

the whistle of a blackbird!

I owe it all to you.

I'll never leave you.

Go now, little sparrow.

Don't mind me!

Open the door, Nini.

I order you to open this door.

- Do the cancan without me.

- You've got some timing!

- Where's Nini?

- She doesn't want to dance.

Is she crazy?

She'll ruin everything.

- I'm so sorry.

- Go find Casimir.

- What's going on?

- Nini's letting us down.

Did you cheat on her with Esther?

You should be ashamed.

A nice girl like Nini?

I could slap you!

- Don't start again!

All ready for the cancan?

No, keep them happy

with the band.

We'll have to cut down

the number of dancers.

Never!

You'll take Nini's place.

Are you crazy?

With this mug?

What about it?

I knew it in the old days.

You knew the chahut,

not the French cancan.

There's a big difference.

Still, you could fill a gap.

We beg for your patience while

waiting for the French Cancan.

To clear the floor, those who must move

can come and sit on the stage.

Maestro Oscar will entertain us

with a medley of current hits.

I'll see what's going on.

- She won't dance. She finally understood.

- What a shame!

I'm Nini's mother!

Nini, you're terrible!

- What's going on?

- Your daughter, madame.

She's being stubborn again.

Open up, Nini.

It's your mother!

I'd rather have you smack my face.

Stop being mean.

You hear that?

I'll stay on one condition.

I want Danglard all to myself.

You want to put me in a cage

like a canary?

I warn you,

it won't last long.

You couldn't stand me

after a couple of weeks.

You want the Danglard

of the theater

or Danglard who wears slippers?

I've never worn them and never will!

I'll give you some good advice.

If you want a lover,

Alexandre's perfect.

If you want a husband,

marry Paulo.

Choose between jewels and palaces

or a happy retirement by the fireside,

with honor and dignity,

but I can't give you either!

Do I look like Prince Charming?

Only one thing matters to me -

what I create.

And what do I create? You!

Her!

There have been others before.

There'll be others to come.

In the end, you think it matters

what you and I want?

All that counts is what they want.

We're at the service of the public.

You know why it breaks my heart

to see you go?

They can smash the place to pieces

for all I care!

But the profession's

losing a good trouper.

I thought you were one of us.

If not, get out!

Line up for the quadrille, girls.

Lola, get ready.

Wait, I'm coming.

Take your places for the cancan.

Your dress!

They wouldn't care about Nini

if I'd shot myself over her.

You don't think so?

- What's going on?

- Everything's fine.

- What about your introduction?

- You do it.

Me?

But Nini isn't ready.

She will be. Get going!

Ladies and gentlemen,

the French Cancan!

Would you sit down?

Hurry.

Never seen a behind before?

I have an idea.

Tomorrow I'll marry you.

- Time to put an end to everything?

- Perhaps a beginning.

The stock exchange will have

confidence in an empress's husband.

Mind stepping aside?

You're in the way.

- Still quitting?

- Are you mad?

Would you like

to go on the stage?

Oh, yes!

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