The Flame of New Orleans

[Man Narrating]

Between the banks

of the mighty Mississippi,

Father of Waters,

how many things have happened.

For instance, has anyone in this audience

ever seen a wedding dress

floating down that river?

Here, oddly enough, is just that.

How, you may ask,

does a wedding dress happen

to be on the Mississippi River?

Which is what these fishermen

are asking this very moment.

Yes, it's an empty wedding dress,

and the bride is gone.

And this is how was startzed the legend

of the Countess of New Orleans...

who disappeared a century ago-

exactly a century ago

this coming Saturday,

on the day ofher wedding.

Mr. Charles! Mr. Charles!

Why would a girl who had

everything to live for...

do this?

On her wedding day.

[Narrator]

These people never found out

what happened, but you will.

Before we open this door,

a little secret.

This, uh, countess we mentioned

is not really a countess.

Shh. Open, please.

We're late for the opera.

Thank you.

The show has already begun,

but never fear.

We're in time

for the beginning of our story,

and we hope you enjoy it.

Good night.

[Orchestra]

[Man Singing Opera In Italian]

[Continues]

[Woman Singing Opera In Italian]

[Singing Together]

[Opera Continues]

[Woman Singing Aria]

My, what's happenin'?

Guess someBody done fainted.

[Continues]

Oh, sir.

Oh, please, everyBody.

Stop crowding.

Give Madame some air.

Are you-Are you feeling Better?

I'm so sorry.

Oh, please.

It was a pleasure.

That's your mistress

that fainted.

Yes. I know it.

Well, I'll- I'll leave you alone.

Thank you.

Would you care

to have this around you?

No, thank you.

[Opera Continues]

[Chattering]

[Whispering]

He's Behind you.

Is he looking at me?

Can't you feel it?

[No AudiBle Dialogue]

You afraid of the dark?

You're not so dark.

How's your mistress

like New Orleans so far?

Oh, it's all right for a small town.

A small town?

New Orleans?

Well, after Paris,

London and Vienny,"

this ain't much of a town.

My, my!

She's the most Beautiful

woman in New Orleans.

Thank you.

After you.

Come, come.

There must Be some way

to meet the countess.

Where does she

go shopping?

In Paris.

Ah. Hmm.

Where does she go walking?

In the courtyard.

Uh-huh.

Well, she must leave

the house sometime.

Only to take a drive in the park.

Drive. Driving. Aha.

[Chuckling]

Oh, thank- Oh!

Where did you get these...

in the daytime?

I was BriBed.

BriBed?

Someone's gonna

insult you today,

if you get out of Bed.

The Banker?

Where? How?

When you're drivin'

in the park,

a Big man's gonna get

in an argument with you.

And Mr. Giraud-

that's the Banker's name-

is gonna come along-

And give him a good Beating,

after which I throw my arms

around his neck.

Pretty old.

What do you mean

By talking to a lady in this fashion?

Do you want to make

something out of it?

No.

[Whining] Do you want to make

something out of it?" No.

[Loudly] Do you want

to make something out of it!

Yes, sir.

What do you mean

By talking to a lady in this fashion?

Uh, do you care to make

anything out of it, sir?

[Groaning]

[Man]

Be careful! Stop!

Stop! Stop the carriage.

Driver, can't you hear me?

Whoa. Whoa.

[Man] Excuse me.

I'll only keep you a minute.

Don't move till I get through here.

This monkey's one of the family.

Nice, Jacques. Nice.

Don't Be frightened.

You're not hurt.

Don't cry now.

Just hold on to my hand.

Nice, Jacques. You want to take

a little drive in the park, eh?

Why did you stop, Samuel?

Drive on.

[Man] Wait a minute.

I haven't got him loose yet.

Can't you hear me?

Stop the horses!

Hey, stop that!

Now, you're a very lucky lady.

You have no idea

how lucky you are.

My monkey shouldn't have

run into the road.

But, on the other hand,

when someone

hollers at you to stop,

you can't be in such a hurry

you can't find out

what he's hollering about.

- Do you hear me Behind that umBrella?

- Drive on, Samuel.

[Man] Are you crazy?

One move out of this carriage,

and you'll both get a surprise.

- Git. Git.

- [Chittering]

One, two, three!

[Chittering]

I don't understand this,

Madame.

You don't understand it?

Do you, uh, want to make

something out of her?

Do you want to make something

out of it?

Oh, yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Careful.

Here comes someBody.

That's the one.

Stop the horses.

Stop! Stop!

Stop!

Madame, we's Been attack-ted" again.

[Whistling, Humming]

[Humming Continues]

One of'em had me

By the throat like this.

Another one had the horses

By the throat like this.

Then two other scoundrels

had pistols to my head.

Then another scoundrel

sneaked up and

pulled out his knife.

[All Laughing]

Now, that makes

five scoundrels!

Thought you said

there was only four.

[Crowd Laughing]

Wait for me.

[Countess Humming]

[Laughing]

[Whistling, Humming]

Clementine,

I'm going to New York!

I can't get any money

from the men in this town.

[Humming Resumes]

I understood Madame

had Been assaulted while driving,

and I came to offer my services.

But I seem to have come

at the wrong time.

Just a minute, please!

[Humming]

He downstairs.

What?

Mr. Giraud.

He heard every word.

Oh!

Go down and tell him

I'm not at home.

No, no, no. That's no good.

Who could we say

is up here?

[Clementine]

Oh, sir?

Madame will Be

right down.

Well.

Madame say, won't you

please come in the parlor

and rest yourself.

Oh, well-

When a day start wrong,

it look like everything happens.

First that old man who

turned the carriage over,

and now this awful person.

[Door Closes]

Clementine, I'm going!

If the countess doesn't want

to see me, I don't want

to see her either.

Tell her that!

Madame is too softhearted.

Family trouBle?

Yes, sir.

Who is she?

I can't tell you.

I just can't.

And good-Bye!

[Door Slams]

A woman alone is helpless.

I'm not going to let

your attacker go unpunished.

But I don't know

what he looks like.

I only saw his feet.

His feet?

[Chuckles] Enough.

Now, look carefully.

Are those the ones?

No.

That eliminates him.

Every night,

we'll eliminate one person.

There are a hundred thousand men

in New Orleans... with feet.

[Chuckles]

[Orchestra:
Circus]

[Chattering, Laughing]

Did you see that?

I can do that.

Aw, it's a trick. He puts

that sticky stuff on the rope.

No, no. The sticky stuff

is on his shoes!

No, no. I know the secret.

The whole thing's keeping

your ears on the level.

[All Laughing]

You watch me

keep watching my ears.

May I?

Why, sure.

Hey! Hey!

Don't worry, partner.

I'm worried.

He's Been drinkin' a little.

What's that got to do

with his ears?

[Circus Continues]

[People Gasping]

That's the monkey!

There are the feet!

- I mean, there's the man!

- [Crowd Screaming]

Don't worry,

I'm not gonna fall on you.

I'm sure he's the one.

I'd know him anywhere.

Please don't excite yourself.

I'll deal with our friend.

[Chittering]

[Crowd Screaming]

I'm sorry.

I thought I'd hit the pole.

I'm sorry.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes